Truck and Track Summer 2026 www.truckandtrack.com 40 PALLET NETWORKS TRUCK & TRAILER SOLUTIONS WELCOME TOALLPORTS GROUP allportsgroup.co.uk The Association of Pallet Networks (APN) has released its Q1 2026 results showing total pallet volumes 2.0% up on the same period in 2025. Almost 7.4 million pallets were delivered across the seven UK pallet networks. Key points include: ■ Next-day volumes in Q1 2026 were 1.5% higher than in 2025 and economy volumes increased by 3.1%. ■ To date in 2026 nextday services account for 60.8% of the total volume and economy services 39.2%, reflecting a slight increase in the use of economy services compared to the full year 2025. ■ In Q1 2026 all pallet sizes have seen growth compared to Q1 2025 volumes. Full pallets increased by just 0.04%, but half and quarter pallets fared better at 3.4% and 5.1% respectively. ■ The number of consignments shipped has grown by 5% in 2026 compared to 2025, although the average number of pallets per consignment has fallen slightly to 1.42. Full pallets continue to account for almost half the total volume, with half pallets making up 29.6% and quarter pallets the remaining 22.7%. Trunk capacity utilisation in Q1 averaged 71%, a slight fall on the 2025 average, but still significantly higher than the DfT’s average loading factor for comparable vehicles. APN Chairman Paul Sanders says: “The pallet network sector is a mature industry, and we are pleased to see steady growth in Q1, especially when it included a period of economic turbulence. It is particularly pleasing to see that the high service levels the sector is renowned for were unaffected by extra volume, remaining above 96%.” He says there was a slight indication that some customers may be spending more carefully with the small increase in economy services, and a marginal reduction in consignments with timed delivery surcharges. “That’s one of the strengths of pallet network services,” he says. “Customers can flex their service levels and volumes in line with their order books and are never paying for services they do not require.” www.theapn.co.uk Paul Sanders, Chairman of the Association of Pallet Networks Q1 volumes show steady growth in APN’s latest results Download a free copy of Mental health MATTERS at https://www.theapn.co.uk/downloads.aspx
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